Prayer of Praise

(Psalm 89: 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 52) 

O Lord, we always sing of your constant love,

We will proclaim your faithfulness to us forever.

Almighty God, the heavens sing of the wonderful things you do;

None is as mighty as you, we all stand in awe of you.

Heaven is yours, and the Earth also,

You made the World and everything in it.

Your Kingdom is founded on righteousness and justice,

Love and mercy are shown in all you do.

How happy are we when we worship you with songs,

When we live in the light of your kindness.

Because of you we rejoice all day long,

We praise you for your goodness.

In your love you make us triumphant.

Praise the Lord forever!

Prayer of Confession   

  Merciful God, we look at the society around us, and see what you intended to be noble and grand has been corrupted with vice and violence and greed. 

  Please forgive our failures to fulfil your plans for the World, our failures for the strengthening of justice for all, our failures for the provision for the needs of all, and our failures for the acceptance of others with dignity and equality.

  Merciful God, we feel proud of who we are, of where we belong and of what we have achieved by ourselves.  But, in our pride, we are attempting to compare our insignificance and incompleteness with your incomparable greatness and glory.

  Please forgive the haughtiness that accompanies our pride of person, or place or privilege.  For it is only in humbling ourselves before you that we can put ourselves and the World in the right perspective.

  Merciful God, we look at your Church and see a scattered flock, each going our own way and attempting to do things by themselves, never being a cohesive witness to the Gospel message.

  We are sorry for whatever we have done or have failed to do that estranges others from you and from ourselves.  For it is only in listening to you and following your voice that we find peace and reconciliation.

  Merciful God, we are quick to denounce the sins of others, but slow to admit our own.

  Forgive us for our double standards.  In humbleness, we lay our guilt before you.

  Merciful God.  We lay all our faults before the Light of the World.

  Please grant us forgiveness for our offences and for our negligence, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Ephesians 2: 8 & 9) 

The Apostle Paul made it clear to the Church in Ephesus that it was through God’s grace that they had been saved from their sins, and that it had nothing to do with their own efforts or goodness.  We, too, have come before God, confessing our sins and professing our faith in God’s saving power.  Let us trust in God’s promise to listen to us, to forgive us, and to restore us to a right relationship with Himself.

Thanks be to God.

Prayers for Others:

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may be witnesses to your reconciling power, expressions of your nurturing love, and instruments of your healing care.

We pray for unity, that through Christ’s victory over death, the divisions in the Human family may be dissolved and the wounds of racism and prejudice be healed.

We pray for a spirit of compassion, that you will touch our hearts with care and concern for all whom we find burdensome, needy, or demanding.

We pray for all who exercise leadership, that they may place their gifts unselfishly in the service of others and draw forth the skills of others for the fulfillment of your work of ensuring that no one is in want.

We pray for all who serve in ministry, that you will bless their efforts, help them keep their lives in balance, and work through them to show a shepherd’s care.

We pray that you will sustain those who have grown weary of doing good and who see little or nothing being achieved by their efforts.

We pray for your support for refugees, those displaced by violence, and those living under oppressive governments, that you will help them find the resources that they need for life.

We pray for all who have suffered abuse, that your loving compassion will fill them with hope and courage and heal their bodies, minds, and spirits.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will strengthen those recovering from natural disasters, give hope to those who have lost their homes, and give peace to those who are mourning.

We pray for the sick, that you will relieve their pain and hurt, that you will give hope to those who are progressing through treatments, and that you will give skill and compassion to those who provide health care.

We pray for patience and insight, that you will help parents and young people who are in conflict, help them understand each other, and lead them to new respect and cooperation.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

(also from Leading Intercessions by Raymond Chapman p71 and Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year B by David Hostetter p154)

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.